Kenya School of Government seeks to boost capacity building for civil servants

When former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta was received by Kenya School of Government (KSG) Director-General Prof Ludeki Chweya on arrival for the Celebration of International Women's Day, 2019. [File, Standard]

The Kenya School of Government (KSG) has unveiled a new capacity-building training curriculum to improve performance among public servants.

KSG Director General Ludeki Chweya said the Leadership Programme for National Transformation (LPNT) is aligned with the country's and regional socio-economic goals to achieve sustainability.

The pioneer cohort that began classes on February 19 is expected to complete the training on April 5.

"The programme seeks to highlight the opportunities we have to harness our resources to create wealth, mostly through agriculture, Industrialisation and commerce," Chweya said.

The KSG Director General said that the strategic policy options of leadership, managerial and attitudinal capacity that the public service requires will help in the implementation of the government's development agenda.

Chweya spoke on Tuesday during the launch of the programme at KSG in Nairobi.

He noted that the leadership programme course targets officers from across spheres of the public service, counties and local governments, mainstream civil service, and semi-autonomous state-owned agencies.

Chweya said that the seven-week programme will also be instrumental in realising regional integration initiatives, including Africa Free Trade Area to end poverty as a priority challenge.

He revealed that the institution will leverage on the collaborative arrangements already made with Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa among other 10 countries, to build capacity for institutional strengthening of public service.

The launch also comes at a time when KSG is marking a century of existence since its inception in 1924.

KSG was founded as Jeans School to train supervisors who would in turn train tutors for vocational education learners.

With five campuses across the country, the institution has, however, transformed over the years currently churning out 20,000 public officials annually.

The training also brings out persons with technical skills and expertise and promotes a citizen-centric attitude for strategic planning and practical delivery of services.

During the event which was also attended by diplomats from across Africa, Chweya revealed that the programme is open for participants from across the continent.

"We look forward to enrollment of participants from around the continent as well as the participation of experts from around the continent in facilitating the modules and sessions in the course," he said.

"It is conveniently staggered, with options for online attendance in light of the busy schedules of the prospective participants," Chweya said emphasising that the new programme will aid the continent in realising its visions.

A week earlier, the African Diplomatic Corps hosted a luncheon as a precursor to the launch of the LPNT programme, where the delegates expressed support for the programme.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria appealed to Africa to embrace the programme that he said, will address governance challenges.

"It is important to embrace the role of capacity building and indoctrination for people to think, act, and behave in a certain way," Kuria said.

During the luncheon, KSG Council Chair Charles Nyachae expressed confidence in the institution's capacity to effect public service through development of programmes such as LPNT.

"I am confident of a growing trajectory of the School in establishing itself as the ultimate training institution for governance and leadership," said Nyachae.